Extension device for bracelets or the like



April 11, 1950 A. R. sAccocclo A 2,503,921

ExIENsIoN DEVICE EOE BRACELETS 0R THE LIKE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 v l I N VEN TOR. Maqgaccocco Patented Apr. 11,.1950

= lApplication December This invention relatesto .an lextension deviceforbracelets and the like'for enlarging the en circling sizes of thebracelet so that the same may be passed over the hand of the wearerwithout separating the ends of the bracelet.

' Various chain extension devices h ave'l'oeen provided which have someextensibility 'either by reason of a resilient action to permit endwisesliding of the parts or by reason of foldingof the parts. These twomovements are usually not combined. 'i

One of the objects of this invention is to combine a sliding and foldingaction with an arrangement so that the device will mechanically folditself without the need for manipulation by the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide an unusually large amountof expansion by reason of the sliding and folding action of the variousparts which go to make up the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction in whichlike parts are duplicates and the assembly is of duplicate arrangementwhereby to reduce the expense of tools for forming the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a resilient action whichwill operate either when the device is in contracted position or when inextended position so that there will be extension or contraction of theparts in accordance with strain on them or relief thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a maximum extension ofthe parts by having the folding parts overlapping each other lengthwiseof the device to the full extent thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the extension device shown as connectedto links of a bracelet at either end thereof;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the sliding sections atthe opposite ends as drawn out-from the middle body section; f

Figure 3 is a bottom View of the extension device alone and incontractedv position;

Figure 4 isa section on line 4--4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the various sections of the device intheir extended relation so as to indicate the large amount ofextensibiltywhch isprovided by the device;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section with the devicein collapsed position.

)STATES PATENT. QFFICE j -u 1,.;5.. l DEvioE FOR BRACELETS if.-ORTHELIKE-E a l "initiates R. saccpccio,cuentan.;

7, 194s, seriaiNaesg'eu:

. disclaims." (c1. 254.-'71) I provide abodyV section from which slidingsections may move beyond either end thereof. Each of the slidingsections has hinged to it two folding sections whichfold beneath andnest with the sliding section, andthe hinged relation of these twofolding-sections is such that a spring causes them .to fold `one uponthe other into a sandwiching relation, and by providing the foldingsections each of substantially the full length of the device andlyingside by side widthwiseof the body section, an. unfolding may be hadmany.l times the length of the device. With reference to the drawings,lll designates the body section which has a top wall l I and side wallsI2 extendingdownwardly therefrom. The top wall may have a raised portionalong a part of its width, as shown in Fig. 4. There is also providedinwardly extending flanges I3 from the side walls I2 so as to provide aslide-way I4 for the sliding sections I5 which extend from either end ofthe body section as is more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The sliding section I5 is provided with an abut.- ment IB at lits innerend and a spring I 1 operates between this abutment It and the turneddown finger I8 at the end of the top wall II of the body section I0.Thus, as the section I5 is withdrawn or slid outwardly beyond the end ofthe section IU, the spring II will be compressed and when pulling isrelieved, this sliding section will slide back into the body section soas to assume the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6.

A rst folding section 2B is hinged to each of the sliding sections i5 bymeans of a pintle pin 2I which extends through eyes 22 on the section I5and through a suitable ear 23 on the section 20. I5, as shown in Fig. 6,and will be suitably flanged as at 24 (see Fig. 4) so as to nest withthe downwardly extending portion 25 of the section I5. Spring 26, actingabout the pintle pin 2|, swings the section 2li upon the pin andrelative to the section 2| so that it will move to the folding relationshown in Figs. 1, 4 and 6 when a strain relation.` The sections 20 and28 in folded rela- This section will fold beneath the section tionextend the full length of the device, as shown in the bottom view in.Figure 3, and as each of the pairs of sections 20 and 28 are of a widthone-half of the Width of the device` they lie in side-by-side relationwithout increasing the thickness of the unit, and yet ,may be extendedinto position shown in Figure 5 to give a maximum extension of a chainor bracelet in which they are connected.

When the device is folded,v as shown in Figure 6, the two foldingsections and the sliding section may be pulled from thebodyl housingsection beyond either end thereof as is desired; or, when thefoldingsections are intheir extended positions, as shown in Fig. 5, this actionmay also focciir so as to enlargeA theend-to-end relationship of thesections, asfshcwn inFig. 5.

:A bracelet chain, stranzfo the like 35 may. be attached to an eye or`slot 36 in the folding secn tions 28 so as to provideffor connectingthe extension device in an'encii'cling member vof this character.

I claim: y 1. An extension device for bracelets and the like comprisinga body section, a pair of sliding seof tions guided in said body sectionfor movement e'ndwise in opposite directions beyond the ends of saidbody section, resilient means acting between said body section and saidsliding sections yieldingly urging the sliding'sections toward eachother along the body section, a. pair of folding sections each hinged toa sliding section at its outer end, and means to connect said foldingsection to a bracelet or the like, the last of said folding sectionsbeing of a length to extend from the ends of the body section one beyondthe other and of a width to be in side-by-side relation Wdthwise of thebody section.

2. An extension device for bracelets and the like comprising a bodysection, two pairs of sections one at each end of said body section,each pair of sections consisting of two hingedly connected sections andhaving one section hinged to the corresponding end of saidbody sectionto fold thereunder and each pair of sections being l of a length greaterthan one-half of the said body said body section, and means to connectthe ends of the other sections of each pair of sections to the ends of abracelet or the like.

ANTHONY R. SACCOCCIO.

REFERENCES lCIIFJ) The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 30 1,990,385 Kurz Feb. 5, 19352,444,028 Bliss et al June 29, 1948

